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KEY VERSE:
Luke 5:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Almost everyone is interested in success. Of all people in the world, Christians should want to succeed. What makes us different are our definition of success and our strategies to get there. Jesus taught these fishermen a lesson on spiritual success and we too can learn from it!
I. ACCEPT THE LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN EFFORTS AND PLANS.
Human talent, ability and effort can only go so far. Only God can take us all the way through to success!
A. Peter, Andrew, James and John did all they knew to do and still had come up empty.
B. While God gave us brains to think with, He still wants us to depend on Him for all our needs.
II. TRUST THE WORD OF JESUS EVEN IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
A. These men were experienced fishermen and Jesus was a carpenter.
B. They didn’t see Jesus as a carpenter, but rather their teacher.
III. BE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS.
2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
A. When Jesus asked them to go out, it was into the deep water.
B. Its in the deep waters of life where we learn to spiritually swim.
C. Satan would have you “play it safe”.
IV. PERSEVERE EVEN THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENT AND FATIGUE.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
A. The fishermen were tired, but willing to do their part.
B. They were discouraged, but willing to try again.
C. God will direct you but you still have to go in the direction He points!
V. REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK.
A. The fishermen worked together and they shared the catch together as well.
B. Since Jesus was the ultimate focus, it didn’t matter who got the credit.
VI. REMEMBER, GOD CAN GIVE US MORE THAN WE ASK OR IMAGINE.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
A. The catch of fish was even greater than they would have expected.
B. Our God delights in surprising us.
VII. BE HUMBLE IN YOUR SUCCESS.
A. Peter did not take credit for the success.
B. In fact, he humbled himself before God and came face to face with His own unworthiness.
Conclusion:
Remember after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter, filled with regret, decided to go back to fishing. Peter no doubt felt he had failed. Jesus came to him again and did a similar miracle. He evidently never forgot the lesson. He went from that place to become a great fisher of men. He became a spiritual success, and so can you. You know the secrets.